Agnes shuddered at the bare suggestion of another interview with the Countess.

‘I can’t!  I daren’t!’ she exclaimed.  ’After what has happened in that horrible room, she is more repellent to me than ever.  Don’t ask me to do it, Henry!  Feel my hand—­you have turned me as cold as death only with talking of it!’

She was not exaggerating the terror that possessed her.  Henry hastened to change the subject.

‘Let us talk of something more interesting,’ he said.  ’I have a question to ask you about yourself.  Am I right in believing that the sooner you get away from Venice the happier you will be?’

‘Right?’ she repeated excitedly.  ’You are more than right!  No words can say how I long to be away from this horrible place.  But you know how I am situated—­you heard what Lord Montbarry said at dinner-time?’

‘Suppose he has altered his plans, since dinner-time?’ Henry suggested.

Agnes looked surprised.  ’I thought he had received letters from England which obliged him to leave Venice to-morrow,’ she said.

‘Quite true,’ Henry admitted.  ’He had arranged to start for England to-morrow, and to leave you and Lady Montbarry and the children to enjoy your holiday in Venice, under my care.  Circumstances have occurred, however, which have forced him to alter his plans.  He must take you all back with him to-morrow because I am not able to assume the charge of you.  I am obliged to give up my holiday in Italy, and return to England too.’

Agnes looked at him in some little perplexity:  she was not quite sure whether she understood him or not.

‘Are you really obliged to go back?’ she asked.

Henry smiled as he answered her.  ‘Keep the secret,’ he said, ‘or Montbarry will never forgive me!’

She read the rest in his face.  ‘Oh!’ she exclaimed, blushing brightly, ‘you have not given up your pleasant holiday in Italy on my account?’

’I shall go back with you to England, Agnes.  That will be holiday enough for me.’

She took his hand in an irrepressible outburst of gratitude.  ‘How good you are to me!’ she murmured tenderly.  ’What should I have done in the troubles that have come to me, without your sympathy?  I can’t tell you, Henry, how I feel your kindness.’

She tried impulsively to lift his hand to her lips.  He gently stopped her.  ‘Agnes,’ he said, ’are you beginning to understand how truly I love you?’

That simple question found its own way to her heart.  She owned the whole truth, without saying a word.  She looked at him—­ and then looked away again.

He drew her nearer to him.  ‘My own darling!’ he whispered—­ and kissed her.  Softly and tremulously, the sweet lips lingered, and touched his lips in return.  Then her head drooped.  She put her arms round his neck, and hid her face on his bosom.  They spoke no more.

The charmed silence had lasted but a little while, when it was mercilessly broken by a knock at the door.